Airforce Delta Wikia
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"Based on the F/A-22, this fighter bomber has improved stealth and a sizeable payload. Just don't confront other aircraft."
Harry's description of this plane in the shop.

The X-44 MANTA (Multi-Axis No Tail Aircraft) was an experimental technology demonstrator developed by Lockheed Martin based on the F/A-22 Raptor, intended to test the feasibility of craft that functioned with vectoring thrust alone. Funding for the project was cancelled in 2000. This aircraft appears in both Airforce Delta Storm and Airforce Delta Strike. It was known in Storm as the XF-0001 Mercury. This craft is used by Bravo Squadron, and can be used by Holst Prendre and Pedro Glankert.

Design[]

Airforce Delta Storm[]

Believe it or not, this is actually the more realistic version of the X-44. It has large, rounded delta wings, and, of course, an absence of vertical stabilizers.

Airforce Delta Strike[]

Oddly, the version from Airforce Delta Strike is not realistic; this version appears to be based off the FB-22 concept plane, having the same delta wings as that craft. As a result, the design is less realistic compared to its Storm counterpart.

Performance[]

Airforce Delta Storm[]

A very good craft. It's unlocked fairly late in the game, but it still manages to be quite useful, having incredibly high stats all around. In the PAL version of the game, the Mobility stat of this plane is even higher, all the way to the max. Overall, it is a very above average aircraft that can be a good alternative to the likes of the MiG-1.44 MFI and the Phosphorus.

Airforce Delta Strike[]

Sadly, despite how cool this plane looks, it's very lacking compared to the F-15U Plus. Firstly, internal bomb-bays hurts its DPS. Secondly, it lacks vulcans compared to the F-15U. And even still, its special weapon is arguably worse. Guided bombs are nice thanks to the triple cash bonus, but this plane only has 20 of them, and their splash radius is poor. It's also less maneuverable and less speedy than the F-15U.

Statistics[]

Airforce Delta Storm[]

Type Stats
Attack: Medium-high
Defense: Very high (5500 HP)
Speed: Very high
Power: Maximum
Mobility: Very high (!)
Missile: 72
Ability: Stealth
Range: 3
  • (!) - Mobility stat is Maximum in the PAL version.

Airforce Delta Strike[]

(Clockwise starting from top)

Type Stats
Anti Air Attack: Low
Mobility: High
Defense: Very high (4700 HP)
Anti Ground Attack: Very high
Thrust: Maximum
Speed: Medium

Notable Appearances[]

Airforce Delta Storm[]

Airforce Delta Strike[]

  • Bravo Squadron uses this aircraft in Turning Point. They are, surprisingly, not shot down in this level.

Gallery[]

Airforce Delta Storm[]

Airforce Delta Strike[]

Trivia[]

  • In the NTSC version, the enemy Mercury's paint scheme is the exact same as the player's, right down to having the Delta emblem on the wing.
  • In the PAL version, the enemy Mercury has an different paint job encountered in Final Mission, Fortress in the Sky, and Black Target. (See Gallery)
  • It's possible to read "Delta 3" on Bravo Team's X-44, even though the aircraft doesn't belong to Delta Squadron.
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